Allies turn on Israel over construction decision

(JNS.org) Israel’s relations with some of its strongest friends in Europe took a dramatic downturn on Monday when Britain, France, and Germany publicly berated Jerusalem’s decision to expand construction in the wake of the Palestinian Authority’s statehood bid at the United Nations.

“We appeal to the Israeli government to desist from this procedure (for building more),” German government spokesman Steffen Seibert told a news conference, according to Israel Hayom.

The U.K., France and Sweden summoned the Israeli ambassadors in London, Paris and Stockholm to explain their government’s position in the wake of Israel’s decision to build some 3,000 housing units in the West Bank, as well as plans to build in the E1 section between Jerusalem and Maaleh Adumim.

“The Israeli ambassador to London, Daniel Taub, has been summoned to the Foreign Office this morning for a meeting with the minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, to discuss this further,” a UK Foreign Office statement said. The foreign office said it expects Israel to reverse its decision to build in E1.

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